Meet Our Chaplains

Chaplain John Tillery

Branch of Service: Civil Air Patrol
Rank: Lt. Col.

Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel John F. Tillery is the Wing Chaplain, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. He assists commanders in their obligation to ensure the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion for 15,000 fire protection, special instruments, and intelligence professionals for the Department of Defense, other government agencies, and allied nations at Goodfellow AFB and at assigned units in California, Arizona and Florida. Additionally, he serves as the principal advisor to wing leadership regarding the impact of religion on the mission. Chaplain Tillery leads a ministry team of seven chaplains, three chaplain assistants, six contractors, and provides oversight for over 75 volunteers. He provides religious support for Aerospace Expeditionary Force, humanitarian deployments and other operations as required.

Chaplain Tillery served on a Forward Observer team in the US Army Field Artillery (‘72-‘76) before he began his ministry among the Plymouth Brethren in 1977. During his pastoral career he served as the associate pastor of the Arab Church of Dallas in Dallas, Texas (‘84-‘87); Pastor of Denali Bible Chapel in Fairbanks, Alaska (‘87-‘91); Academic Dean of the Jordanian Evangelical Theological Seminary (‘91-‘92); pastor of the International Church in Amman, Amman, Jordan (‘92-‘96). In 1996 he joined the United States Air Force. He is a veteran of Operations Southern Watch, Desert Fox, Joint Forge and Unified Protector.

EDUCATION:
1977 Certificate, Emmaus Bible School, Oak Park, IL
1979 Associate of Applied Science, Tanana Valley Community College, Fairbanks, AK
1981 Bachelor of Technology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK
1987 Master of Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX
1997 Commissioned Officer Training, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL
1997 Chaplain Orientation Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL
2001 Squadron Officer’s School in residence, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL
2004 Clinical Pastoral Education Residency, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
2007 Master of Sacred Theology, Boston University, Boston, MA
2009 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Doctor of Ministry, Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, TX
2014 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL